ANNUAL REPORT 2010 working for a just response to climate change Contents 01 Foreword from the President 03 CEO’s Report 04 Members of the Board of Trustees 06 Board of Trustee Meetings, 2010 07 Members of the International Advisory Council 09 Our Vision, Mission and Priorities 12 Working in Partnership 13 Donors 16 Finance and Administration 18 Directors’ Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2010 Foreword from the President It is quite difficult to explain what a remarkable year The financial commitments we have received in our 2010 was; on a personal level it was the year when I establishment year, are what MRFCJ needed to become returned to live and work in Ireland after spending over fully operational. We can plan the way forward which twelve years working abroad. will enable us to fulfil the challenging and exciting program we are developing. We envisage that all our Aware that climate change is likely to be the biggest activities will be done with appropriate partners to human rights issue of the 21st century and knowing maximise the impact our small but strategic Foundation of its potential for confl ict and devastation, I am very has on the enormous challenges climate change passionate and committed to the innovative difference presents to the poorest and most vulnerable, who are a climate justice approach to climate change can make. least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. And so, on a professional level, I decided to establish the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ). The progress made would not have been possible without the dedicated work of our staff and the Board of To establish a Foundation you need people not only Trustees. I would like to acknowledge the commitment to believe in you but in your beliefs. I was fortunate shown by my fellow Trustees who have committed that from the initial discussions the Provost of Trinity unstintingly their expertise, time, ideas and energy to College Dublin and the President of University College the Foundation. I look forward to working with them in Dublin did so and MRFCJ was established under the coming years. the Innovation Alliance of the two Universities. Their generous support and that of significant donors, was there from the beginning of this huge challenge. I Mary Robinson was glad to be able to put together a distinguished President International Advisory Council, a number of whom have contributed as donors or in other significant ways. Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice 01 Prabhati Devi from Surah ka Kheda Society, a village in Rajasthan begins her days work, October 2010; the constant droughts have affected agriculture to the extent that two-thirds of the population have migrated to the city leaving mainly women and children behind. 02 Annual Report 2010 Acting CEO’s Report The Mary Robinson Foundation was incorporated on 8 I am happy to report that the three critical success factors February 2010 as a company, limited by guarantee not were achieved; that, coupled with securing satisfactory having a Share Capital. It has Charitable Tax exemption front-end funding for operational costs for 2011 – 2012 status (CHY No. 19009). The business name is Mary means the Foundation is on a secure footing for the Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice (MRFCJ). implementation of its Business Plan 2011 – 2014. The logistics of establishing the company, securing the premises, recruiting initial staff and fi tting out the offi ces During the establishment year just one programming with furnishings, IT and telecommunication systems were venture was undertaken to completion. Focussed on the the key functions completed during 2010. All compliance development of Women’s Leadership on Climate Justice and regulatory functions were also completed during the leading to COP 16 in Cancun, the project was funded year and patents for trade-marks secured. by the Rockefeller Foundation and is reported on our website http://www.mrfcj.org/projects/2010/womens_ On the establishment of MRFCJ it was envisaged that leadership_on_climate_justice.html 2010 should see an increased awareness of climate justice, in the post-Copenhagen environment leading to A network of women leaders at all levels, which was COP 16 in Mexico: as that was not happening there was established as an integral part of this project, is being a challenge to ensure that it did. consolidated and expanded as MRFCJ turns its focus to COP 17 in Durban and beyond. Other research projects The Foundation identified that certain critical success were commenced and will be on-going during 2011. factors would influence its capacity to progress as planned – including: A CEO will be appointed in 2011 and that together with • finalisation of Foundation office and recruitment other staff appointments, strengthened structures and of initial staff procedures and implementation of the activities outlined • establishment of proper functioning organisational in the strategic business plan will allow MRFCJ to and operational structures progress steadily in all areas of work. • favourable evolution of the relationship between MRFCJ and the Innovation Alliance of the Universities Bride Rosney Acting CEO Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice 03 Members of the Board of Trustees TOM ARNOLD Agricultural economist; CEO of Concern Worldwide; former Assistant Secretary-General of Irish Government Department of Agriculture and Food FRANK CONVERY Director of the Environmental Systems Institute, University College Dublin (UCD); Honorary President, European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists CONOR GEARTY Lawyer; Professor of Human Rights Law, London School of Economics; legal correspondent for The Tablet; founder of Matrix Chambers JANE GRIMSON Chartered Engineer; co-founder and current Director of the inter-displinary Centre for Health Informatics, Trinity College Dublin JOHN R. HEALY Adjunct Professor, Centre for Nonprofit Management, Trinity College Dublin; former CEO and President of The Atlantic Philanthropies; former (founding) CEO of The Irish American Partnership HADEEL IBRAHIM Executive Director, Mo Ibrahim Foundation which addresses good governance across Africa and the world IRENE KHAN Lawyer; former Secretary-General of Amnesty International; former Chief of Mission in India; Deputy Director of International Protection, UN High Commission for Refugees BRIGID LAFFAN Principal of the College of Human Sciences, UCD; former Jean Monnet Professor of European Politics in UCD; founding Director of the Dublin European Institute, UCD MARY ROBINSON (CHAIR) Lawyer; member of The Elders; Chancellor of Dublin University; former President of Ireland; former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 04 Annual Report 2010 Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice 05 Board of Trustee Meetings, 2010 In January 2010, before MRFCJ was formally incorporated on the 8 February 2010, there was one informal meeting of designate-members of the Board of Trustees. There were five formal meetings of the Board during the year as follows – with attendance noted in table below. In accordance with the Memo and Articles of MRFCJ the “contemporaneous linking together by telephone or other means of electronic communication of a number of Trustees not less than the quorum shall be deemed to constitute a meeting of the Trustees…” Two of the meetings, asterisked in table, were conducted by electronic means. 15 Feb* 11 Mar 27 April* 21 June 12 Nov Total (Max 5) Tom Arnold Y Y Y Y Y 5 Frank Convery Y Y Y Y Y 5 Conor Gearty Y Y Y Y N 4 Jane Grimson Y N Y Y Y 4 John R. Healy Y Y Y Y Y 5 Hadeel Ibrahim Y Y N Y Y 4 Irene Khan N N Y Y N 2 Brigid Laffan Y Y Y Y N 4 Mary Robinson Y Y Y Y Y 5 There are five ordinary Board meetings scheduled for 2011 – in February, May, July, October and December. 06 Annual Report 2010 Members of the International Advisory Council MRFCJ benefits from the experience and expertise of AL GORE – environmental activist; Nobel Peace Prize an International Advisory Council which is available laureate; served as the 45th Vice President of the United to the Trustees of the Foundation in relation to its States from 1993 to 2001. activities. The initial International Advisory Council consists of the following members: VARTAN GREGORIAN – academic; President of Carnegie Corporation of New York; formerly President RICHARD C. BLUM – investment banker; Chairman of New York Public Library and of Brown University. and President of Blum Capital, an equity investment management firm; Chair of the University of California THOMAS C. HELLER – lawyer; Executive Director Board of Regents. Climate Policy Initiative (CPI); Professor of International Legal Studies, Emeritus, Stanford University; formerly SIR RICHARD BRANSON – industrialist, best known an attorney-advisor to the governments of Chile and for his Virgin brand of over 360 companies; one of Colombia. the funders of The Elders, a small dedicated group of leaders who work objectively and without any vested MO IBRAHIM – mobile communications entrepreneur; personal interest to solve difficult global conflicts. founder of Mo Ibrahim Foundation which addresses good governance across Africa and the world. GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND – former Prime Minister of Norway, diplomat and physician; special Envoy on MUSIMBI KANYORO – Director of the Population Climate Change for the UN Secretary-General; member Program at the Packard Foundation; formerly General of The Elders; former Director-General of the World Secretary of the World YWCA. Health Organisation. MITCH KAPOR –